Electroplating apparatus



June 6, 1933.

w. J. O'NEILL 1,912,400

ELECTROPLATING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 51, 1930 June 5, 1933. w J ONEILL 1,912,400

ELECTROPLAT ING APPARATUS Filed May 31, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 (Er Q Z1 Z5 Ju e a, 1933.

W. J. O'NEILL ELECTROPLATING APPARATUS Filed May 31, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 6, 1933 warren srATE WILLIAM J. ONEILL, OF RIVER FOREST, 'IL'LINOIES, ASSIGNOR T *IvIERGIL PLATING PATENT FFICE Emma-.1.

EQUIL TJIENT CUIJfFAiIY, QF CZECAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPCRATION OF ILLINOICS ELECTROIELATINCT APPARATUS Application filed May 31,

My invention relates to electroplating equipment and has for its general object the provision of means for permitting the passage of objects to be plated through the electrolyte in which they are immersed and effecting the removal of the objects after the plating operation. In the preferr d embodiment of the invention the objects are dropped into the electrolyte at one end of their journey therethrough and are lifted and discharged at the completion of the operation.

My invention, in its more specific aspect, relates to electroplating apparatus employing apertured barrels for containing the ob jects to be plated and disposed within a tank that contains the electrolyte. The means for conveying the objects is desirably in the form of a screw contained within the barrel and where the barrel is revolved, the screw is fixed thereto or coupled therewith, so that both the barrel, which is open ended for the passage of objects therethrough, and screw move together, whereby the barrel performs its normal tumbling function and the screw performs one object of my invention.

I will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view; Figs. 3, 4-, 5, 6 and 7 are sectional views tauen respectively on lines 83, &4 55, 66 and 77 of Fig. 1, parts being broken away.

A stationary electroplating tank 1 includes any suitable form of liquid electrolyte 2. The anodes 3 which are to supply metal or material to the objects to be plated are hung upon metallic bus rods 1 which are supported upon the tank in position to permit these anodes to be sufficiently immersed within the electrolyte. These bus rods are in electrical connection with the anodes and are, themselves, serially connected by another metallic rod 5, the three rods being connected by conductor 6 with the positive pole of the electroplating generator or other source of current, this source furnishing direct current unless the electrolytic cell itself is capable of rectifying alternating current.

The electroplating or tumbling barrel is 1930. Serial No. 457,828.

movable and preferably rotatable within the i d electrolyte. This barrel includes end walls 7 and 8, formed of suitable insulating mahexagonal in contour, said panels being ar-' ranged to conform with the contour of said walls. Other shapes obviously may be employed. Said end walls are assembled with the aid of metallic rods 10 which, pass through the distance preserving insulating bars 11 which, together with the aforesaid end walls, constitute frames for the apertured panels 9. Each of these panels is desirably provided with a frame 9 which is directly seated against and between adjacent insulating bars 11 and against the barrel end walls 7 and 8. The assembly of the end walls is completed by means of the threaded metallic rods 12 having shoulders 18 thereon, these rods being screwed "into the rods 10 and said shoulders servingto clamp the end walls against the rodslO and the distance preserving bars 11. The threaded rods 12 at the right hand end of the barrel, Fig. 1, also passes through the radially disposed conductors ll and the shoulders 13 on these rods for clamping engagement with these conductors which are moulded Within the end wall 8. j The barrel is mounted upon the metallic shaft 15 which is journaled in bearings 16, 17 that are provided upon the end walls of the tank 1. The rods 10 and conductors 14 are brought into electrical connection with the shaft 15 through the intermediation of a metallic collar 18 which is keyed to the shaft and is mechanically and electrically connected to the shaft 15 by the metallic screws 19. Said shaft is connected with a pole of the generator by the conductor 20. The rods 10 constitute cathode conductors whose connection with the electrolyte is effected by cathode terminal screws 21 which are passed through the distance preserving bars 11 into electrical connection with said rods.

Approximately the lower third of the barrel is immersed in electrolyte which passes into the barrel through the perforations in the barrel panels.

As will later hereinafter appear, the objects to be plated are admitted at the left hand end of the barrel, travel along the barrel and are discharged at its right hand end, and means are provided for discharging the objects from the equipment. The means for effecting the travel of the objects to be plated is desirably in the form of a conveyor screw 22 which is coupled with the barrel to receive rotary motion therefrom, the screw being desirably fixed with respect to the barrel, so as to rotate therewith. Said screw is desirably made of insulating material such as bakelite and the hub 23 of the screw is also made of bakelite, the ends of the hub being tightly received within the barrel end walls 7 and 8. The barrel is provided with extensions, one at each end. These barrel extensions are inclusive of annular end walls 24, 25 which are respectively united with and spaced apart from the end walls 7 and 8. Imperforate panels 26 unite the walls 24 and 7 to constitute a chamber at the left hand end of the barrel. The walls 8 and 25 are united by panels 27 to constitute a chamber at the right hand end of the barrel. Distance preserving pieces 28 desirably intervene between the walls 24 and 7 and distance preserving pieces 29 desirably intervene between the Walls 8 and 25. The panels 26 and 27 are desirably received within said distance preserving pieces. Said distance preserving pieces surround sleeves 30 into which the rods 12 are screwed and into which the bolts 31 are also desirably screwed, whereby the walls 7 and 24 and 8 and 25 are held in rigid relation.

A hopper or chute 32 desirably projects through the opening in the annular wall 24 into the chamber at the left of the barrel. The objects to be plated pass through this hopper and into this chamber and are conveyed to the barrel proper by the blade 83 which is carried by and within the chamber at the left of the barrel and is fixed with respect thereto to turn therewith. This blade is inclined downwardly and toward the screw 23 and serves to direct objects to be plated between two of the spokes that are in the left hand position, Fig. 3, into the spiral channel afforded by the screw. The objects tend to fall to the bottom of the barrel, on which account the screw, turned in a suitable direction, forces the travel of the objects to the right hand end of the barrel. and through the spaces between the spokes of the wall 8, and into the chamber at the Y right hand end of the barrel. The horizontal blade 34 in and traveling with the chamber carries the plated objects to a point above the discharge chute 35 and discharges such objects into such chute, the chute discharging the objects into a suitable space or receptacle upon the exterior of the equipment.

Changes may be made without departing from the invention.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. In electroplating apparatus, a barrel revoluble on a horizontal axis and having a plurality of separate axially related chambers one constituting a plating chamber and the other a discharge chamber; a conveyor screw in the plating chamber fixed to rotate with the barrel for moving objects undergoing plating through said chamber substantially uniformly in the direction of the barrel axis into the discharge chamber; and transversely directed blade in the discharge chamber fixed to rotate with the barrel and engaging the objects received in said chamber fromthe plating chamber to elevate said objects for removal from the barrel.

2. In electroplating apparatus, the combination with a tank containing electrolyte; of a perforated barrel dipping within the electrolyte, said barrel being revoluble on a horizontal axis and having a plurality of axially related chambers, one of said chambers constituting a plating chamber and the other a discharge chamber; a perforated wall carried by the barrel and separating the chambers; 21 rmlvcyor screw in lhe plating chamber fixed to rotate with a barrel for moving objects undergoing plating through said chamber substantially uniformly in the direction of the barrel axis and. through said perforated wall into the discharge chamber; a transversely directed blade in the discharge chan'iber fiXcd to rotate with the barrel and engaging the objects received in said chamber through the perforated wall to move said objects vertically; and a discharge chute entering the discharge chamber above the axis of the barrel and above the said tank for receiving by gravity from the transverse blade the objects elevated thereby.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

lVILLIAM J. ONEILL. 

